Differentiation in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Abstract

There is now widespread acceptance of the importance of differentiated instruction in today’s classrooms. However, much of the research regarding differentiated instruction takes place in primary and middle years environments, with very little focussed on the senior secondary years. This article explores differentiated instruction practices in senior secondary high stakes environments. Specifically focussed on the experiences of teachers in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Hong Kong and Australia, where the IB is predominately taught in high-fee-paying institutions, the article explores some of the current practices and concerns of teachers involved in the programme. In exploring differentiated instruction in the IBDP it asks the questions 1) How do teachers employ differentiation in their approaches to teaching in IBDP environments?, and 2) What factors inhibit or enable differentiation in their classrooms?Results from the study indicate that teachers of the IBDP provide several differentiation opportunities within the content and product areas. However, the areas of process and environment were more problematic, with the amount of content that needed to be covered impacting on the approach to teaching and learning adopted by both the teachers and the students. The IB prides itself on its Learner Profile attributes which support the students to become “inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” (IB, 2019a). However, in this study questions were raised regarding the amount of time students are given to think, reflect, or inquire. This is something that all senior secondary years programmes will need to consider as we move through the twenty-first century.